{"id":1849,"date":"2026-10-20T08:52:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-glossary\/ptosis\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:57:13","slug":"ptosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-glossary\/ptosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Ptosis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of a Droopy Eyelid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a><\/li>
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  4. Ptosis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of a Droopy Eyelid<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t

    Ptosis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of a Droopy Eyelid<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Medically reviewed by {{surgeon}}<\/span><\/strong>, {{surgeon’s title and specialty}}<\/span>, on {{review date}}<\/span>. Last updated {{date}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \"Eyelid<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n\t\t<\/svg>Definition<\/span>\n\t\t\t

    Ptosis<\/strong> (noun, pronounced “TOH-sis”, the p is silent)<\/em>: ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid, so that the edge of the lid sits lower than normal over the eye. It can affect one eye or both, can be present from birth or develop later in life, and in more severe cases the lid covers part of the pupil and blocks vision. The word comes from the Ancient Greek pt\u014dsis<\/em>, meaning “falling”.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

    In short:<\/strong> ptosis (blepharoptosis) is most often caused in adults by the muscle that lifts the lid stretching or coming loose with age, eye surgery, injury or long-term contact lens wear. It is diagnosed with an eye examination and simple lid measurements, and when it is treated, the usual fix is a short operation, led at Laser Istanbul Clinic by eyelid surgeon Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131. A lid that droops suddenly is an emergency and needs same-day medical care.<\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    Ptosis: key facts<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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    <\/svg>Medical name<\/span><\/dt>
    Blepharoptosis (ptosis of the upper eyelid)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>What it is<\/span><\/dt>
    An abnormally low upper eyelid margin when you look straight ahead<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Normal position<\/span><\/dt>
    The upper lid covers only about 1\u20132 mm of the top of the cornea (EyeWiki, AAO)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>One eye or both<\/span><\/dt>
    Either; ptosis in one eye is common<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Two main groups<\/span><\/dt>
    Congenital (present at birth or in the first year) and acquired (develops later)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Commonest adult cause<\/span><\/dt>
    Stretching, thinning or detachment of the levator tendon (aponeurotic ptosis)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Main treatments<\/span><\/dt>
    Monitoring for mild cases; eye drops for some acquired cases; eyelid crutches; surgery, usually under local anaesthetic<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Specialist<\/span><\/dt>
    Eyelid (oculoplastic) surgeon or ophthalmologist; at Laser Istanbul Clinic, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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    What are the types and causes of ptosis?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t

    Ptosis has two main groups. Congenital ptosis<\/strong> is present at birth or appears within the first year, usually because the muscle that lifts the lid did not develop normally (MedlinePlus; EyeWiki). Acquired ptosis<\/strong> develops later and is far more common in adults.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

    The most common cause of a droopy eyelid in adults is a stretched or detached lid-lifting tendon. The levator muscle raises the upper lid through a thin tendon called the aponeurosis. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO, January 2026), this muscle can stretch or separate from the lid with age or after injury or eye surgery; less often, diseases or tumours are the cause. NHS patient information adds long-term contact lens wear to the list of causes.<\/p>

    Type of ptosis<\/th>Cause<\/th>Typical features<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Aponeurotic<\/strong> (age-related)<\/th>The levator tendon stretches, thins or detaches; more likely with ageing, eye surgery or years of contact lens wear<\/td>Gradual; often one side more than the other; the commonest type in adults<\/td><\/tr>
    Congenital<\/strong><\/th>The lid-lifting muscle did not develop normally; sometimes linked to nerve or eye-movement problems<\/td>Seen from birth or the first year; in one or both lids<\/td><\/tr>
    Myogenic<\/strong> (muscle)<\/th>Muscle diseases such as myasthenia gravis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia or oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy<\/td>Can vary through the day; may come with double vision<\/td><\/tr>
    Neurogenic<\/strong> (nerve)<\/th>Third nerve palsy or Horner syndrome<\/td>Often sudden; may come with double vision or a pupil of a different size<\/td><\/tr>
    Mechanical<\/strong><\/th>A lump, cyst, swelling or scar weighs the lid down<\/td>A visible or palpable lump or scar<\/td><\/tr>
    Traumatic<\/strong><\/th>A cut or injury that damages the muscles that raise the lid<\/td>After an accident or injury<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>

    Classification from EyeWiki (AAO), “Blepharoptosis”.<\/p>

    Why is only one of my eyelids drooping?<\/h3>\n

    Ptosis in one eye is common and is usually the slow, age-related aponeurotic type. But a droopy eyelid on one side can also be the first sign of a nerve or muscle problem, so how quickly it appeared and what comes with it matter more than which side it is on. A lid that has drooped slowly over months or years, with no other symptoms, is a very different situation from one that dropped over hours or days.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    What are the symptoms of ptosis?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    The main sign of ptosis is an upper eyelid that sits lower than it should, sometimes making the eye look smaller, “sleepy” or tired. According to the AAO, other signs include:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t